Shoe-stretcher.



P. C. HOLZEMER & D. ZBMBORSKI.

SHOE STRETGHER. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 4, 19'13.

1 ,097,437. Patented May 19, 1914.

r-"gnmmy- 'f f @6l/MMM Witnesses 7' 'WZm/mmemow by M Attorneyg nniirnn srarfpsrATENr ornion.

PETER C. HOLZEMER Nl? DOMINICK ZEMBQRSKI, HASTXNGS, MINNESGTA..

SHOE-STRETGHER.

To all 'LU/wm t may concern Be it known that we, PETER C. HoLZnMnn and DoMiNien Znironsni, citizens of the United States, residing at Hastings, in the county of Dakota, State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful ShoesSti-etcher, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to shoe and boot stretehers, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that character.

@ne ot' Jdie objects or' the present invention is to provide novel and improved means for spreading or separating the side members of the last in an eliicient and convenient manner.

another object of the present invention is to provide a last so constructed and adjust able to accommodate either right or left shoes.

is to provide an implement of the nature indicated which will be comparatively simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as being convenient, serviceable and eilicient in its use.

l/Vith the foregoing general objects outlined, and with other objects in view, it will be apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood that the present invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope oi what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of the improved shoe stretcher, a portion of the adjusting rod being broken away. F ig. 2 is a side elevation of the present device, on a slightly reduced scale, and parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the device, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. 4i is a longitudinal section of one member or section of the last, taken approximately on the line i-4L of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the device, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the device, taken approximately on the line 6*-6 of Fig. 3. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 4, 1913.

A further object of the present invention Patented May 19, 1914. Serial No. 788,133.

7 is a sectional detail. Fig. 8 includes detail views of two attachments.

In carrying out the present invention, reference being had in detail to the drawing, there is provided a last of wood or other suitable material, embodying the two halves or members l, the last being split or divided longitudinally, and the halves or sections l being adapted to abut snugly together.

The remote sides of the sections l are cut away as at 2, and the side members 3 are normally disposed in the cut away portions 2, to complete the side sections l. The side members or wings 3 are disposed adjoining the ball portion ot' the last, and are adapted to be adjusted, in the manner hereinafter described, to accommodate the last to right and left shoes with equal propriety. Thus, the last sections l are provided with the transverse curved openings l extending from the cut away portion Q to the adjoining faces ol the sections, and the side members or wings 8 are provided with the inwardly extending arcuate shanks or stems 5 slidably engaging the openings 4C. The shanks or stems 5 thus permit the rear ends t the side or ball members to be ad justed to and from the respective last sections. The side or ball members 3 are clamped or locked to the positions to which they are set, by means of relatively long set screws G which are in threaded engagement with the respective last sections l, so that their tips project forwardly to the openings l to engage the shanks 5 of the members 3. The set screws G are relatively long, so as to extend to and beyond the ends of the last sections l, and are equipped at their rear ends with the knurled linger pieces 7 for convenience in adjusting the screws as desired. The adjoining portions of the last sections l are preferably cut away `from the rear ends to points short of the tips ot the set screws, as indicated at 8, in order to reduce the friction of the set screws and to lighten the last. The inner or adjoining faces of the sections l are also provided with the longitudinal channels 9 which are inclined from the toe of the last to the rear ends of the last sections l, the channels 9 terminating` short of the forward ends of the last sections, and extending through the rear end of the said sections. Adjoining the rear ends of the channels 9, the last sections 1 are provided with the transverse or lateral openings 10, through which the terminal portions of the lateral guide member or yoke 11 are iassed, so as to properly guide the last sections for movement to and from each other. The adjusting rod 12 is threaded through the cross member or yoke 11, and is inclined similar to the channels 9, the adjusting rod 12 being provided at its rear end with a suitable handle 13 for rotating the rod.

Disposed between the complementary. channels 9 of the last sections, are a pair of crossed levers 14 and 15, which have their forward ends fulcrumed or pivoted within the forward ends of the channels 9, by means of the pins or pivot members 16. The levers 14- and 15 are pivoted together at their intermediate portions, as at 17 and their rear ends are disposed within the opposite channels 9 in advance of the cross member or yoke 11. The lowermost lever is provided at its inner or free end with an upstanding elongated lug 1S, while the uppermost lever 14 is provided at its inner or free end with the depending` elongated lug 19, the lugs 1S and 19 being disposed adjoining the remote edges of the levers, and the inner ends of the levers being preferably pointed or having their edges curved so as to converge together.

A wedge 20 is swiveled to the forward end of the adjusting rod 12, the adjusting rod having a reduced portion swiveled through the wedge 20, and this wedge fits between the adjoiningedges of the levers in rear of the pivoted portions of the levers. The wedge 20 which fits between the rear ends of the levers, is provided with an upper lip 21 at one side overlapping the inner edge of the lower lever 15, and is provided at its other side with a lower lip 22 overlapping the bottom of the inner end of the upper lever 14. rEheside edges of the wedge 2O engage the adjoining edges of the levers, while the lips 21 and 22 engage or cooperate with the respective lugs 1S and 19, whereby when the adjusting rod is threaded forvardly, the inner or rear ends of the levers will be spread, and consequently, the forward ends of the levers will be spread to separate the last sections.

ln order to limit the separation of the last sections 1, the cross member or yoke 11 is provided with the upper longitudinal grooves 211 adjoining its ends, and stop screws 23 are threaded into the top of the last sections 1 above the member 11, so that their tips or lower ends engage within the respective grooves 211 to limit the separation of the last sections, as will be apparent.

In use, when the adjusting` rod 12 has been retracted or adjusted rearwardly, the wedge 20 in being drawn rearwardly or toward the cross member or yoke 11, will permit the inner ends of the levers to swing together so as to permit the last sections 1 to be brought together as seen in Fig. 1. rl`he last may then be set for a right or a left shoe, by setting one or the other of the side or ball members e outwardly. Thus, when the last is to be employed for a shoe for the right foot, the right hand ball member 3 is adjusted outwardly or away from the respective last section 1 to the required distance, by loosening the respective set screw 6 which will permit the respective shank 5 to be drawn outwardly, as seen in Figs. 3 and et. Then, by tightening the respective set screw 6, the right hand shank 5 may be clamped in position. The last may be readily inserted into a shoe or boot, and after the last has been properly inserted, by threading the adjusting rod 12 forwardly, the wedge 2O will be forced forwardly between the rear end portions of the levers 14 and 15, and as a result, the last sections will be separated, so as to stretch the corresponding portionsA of the shoe, it being noted that that side or ball member 3 which has been projected, will serve to stretch the outer side of the shoe at the ball. After the shoe has been sufliciently stretched, the adjusting rod 12 may be threaded rearwardly, so as to per mit the last sections to be compressed together, in which event the last may be withdrawn or extracted in a convenient manner.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawing, it will be apparent that the last may be readily adjusted for either right or left shoes, or other articles of foot wear, and that the last sections may be conveniently and efficiently. separated within the shoes to accomplish the stretching action.

The headed members illustrated in Fig. 8 are designed for attachment to the members 3 p essing out the shoe upper to accommodate corns or bunnions as will be apparent These devices may be readily employed in connection with the improved stretcher, whenever desired or necessary.

Having thus described the inventiomwhat is claimed as new is 1. In a shoe stretcher, a pair of last sections, a cross member having its terminals slidably engaging the respective sections adjoining their rear ends, a pair of crossed and pivoted levers having their forward ends fulcrumed to the respective sections adjoining their forward ends, an adjusting rod threaded through said cross member, and a wedge swiveled to the end of the ad justing rod and engaging between the rear ends of the levers.

2. 1n a shoe stretcher, a pair of last sections, having complementary channels eX- tending from their rear ends to points short of their front ends, the last sections having lateral openings adjoining the rear ends of the channels, a cross member, having its ioo terminals slidably engaging the respective openings, a pair of Crossed and pivoted levers having their forward ends fulcrnmed within the forward ends of the channels, an adjusting rod threaded through the said cross member, and a wedge swiveled to the inner ends of the said levers, the inner ends of the levers fitting within the opposite channels.

3. In a shoe stretcher, a pair of last sections, having complementary channels eX- tending from their rear ends to points short of their front ends, the last sections having lateral openings adjoining the rear ends of the channels, a cross member, having its terminals slidably engaging the respective openings, a pair of crossed and pivoted levers having their forward ends fulcrumed within the forward ends of the channels, an adjusting rod threaded through the said cross member, and a wedge swiveled to the end of the adjusting rod and engaging between the inner ends of the said levers, the inner ends of the levers fitting within the opposite channels, the respective levers having lugs at their rear ends, the wedge having side lips overlapping the respective levers and coperating with the lugs.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto afxed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

PETER C. HOLZEMER. DOMINIGK ZEMBORSKI. Witnesses:

XVM. ULATsoH, C. S. FAIKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

